fideicommissum

Latin fides (“faith”) + commissus, past participle of committo (“to combine/hold together”).

fideicommissum (plural fideicommissa)

1. A benefit bequeathed to a beneficiary who inherits the benefit, subject to the obligation of bequeathing it to another.

   I bequeath my farm to my brother John on condition that he bequeath it to his son Peter. The farm is entailed or burdened by a fideicommissum.

• fideicommissary
• fideicommissarius
• usufruct